Sit Down with Jessica R. Patch

by Patricia Bradley

Today we're going to sit down with Jessica Patch and talk about writing. I met Jessica in 2013 when we rode together to Cincinnati to an American Christian Fiction Writers Conference. For some odd reason, I called her Robin...I guess like Batman and Robin? And I've called her that ever since. Here's a short bio:

Jessica R. Patch is a New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than thirty novels. Known for her pulse-pounding plots, emotionally charged characters, and signature twists, Jessica’s stories explore themes of justice, resilience, and the unshakable power of hope.

Whether weaving inspirational stories of danger edged with romance or crafting chilling thrillers that probe the shadows of the human heart, Jessica delivers fiction that thrills while shining light in the darkest places.

She makes her home in Northwest Mississippi, where she enjoys life with her family, a good cup of tea, and dreaming up her next edge-of-your-seat story usually over tacos and queso.

Leave a comment with your email address, and Jessica will randomly pick a winner to receive a copy of The Other Sister!

Patricia: When did you start writing?

Jessica: I started writing for publication in 2008.

Patricia Bradley: Oh, wow! That's when I returned to writing after working in the abstinence program in our state for 8 years! Okay, why romantic suspense novels? 

Jessica: I’ve always loved suspense and mystery and romance, so it made sense.

Patricia: Same here! What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense? 

Jessica: The words. LOL 

Patricia: Oh, my goodness, yes! So how long does it generally take you to write a novel? 

Jessica: I’ve written an LIS in 8 days but I don’t recommend it. Usually I like to write one in 30 days and revise in 10. For a trade? I write the first draft in 3 months and take a month or so to revise.

Patricia: I may want to put you in a book and...it takes me months to write a book! Are you a panster or plotter or somewhere in between? 

Jessica: I’m an outliner and a meticulous brainstormer. I know I need ABC but how I get from A to B to C, I’m not sure. I do know my cast and their GMC and the twists and villain.

Patricia: Oh, how I wish I could do that! I do have to know my cast and their goals, motivation and conflict, but I don't always know who the villain is... What would you fear the most if Homeland Security went through your computer? 

Jessica: Fear? Nothing. But I’d squirm. ;-)

Patricia: Yeah, me, too. What is the most rewarding or frustrating thing about writing? 

Jessica: Rewarding: Reader letters when the story has moved them in some way. Frustrating? Having to do it on days I don’t want to. LOL

Patricia: Absolutely about reader letters! And I've been there, have the headaches to prove it about writing when I don't want to! What are you working on now? 

Jessica: I’m working on revising my 2027 thriller: Long After We Left Her. 

Patricia: I can't wait! Tell us about your current book. It is amazing!

Jessica: The Girl Upstairs is a story about a former homicide detective who’s going through a rough patch in her marriage as they move into an idyllic small town in Maine, right into a fixer-upper. But the moment Gwen arrives, weird things happen and a bone is found by a hunter’s dog on her property. So naturally, she investigates to uncover a house with a dark history and secrets buried in her backyard.

Patricia: The Girl Upstairs completely captured me! Talk about twists that I didn't see coming! You can read my Suspense Sisters review of it here. Anything you want to add?

Jessica: I’d love for you to join me through my monthly newsletter and get Patched In. You’ll receive a free short thriller. https://jessicarpatch.com/subscribe/ And come hang out at my unhinged corner of the world: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jessicarpatch/

Here's the back cover copy of The Girl Upstairs. You can purchase it here.

“Jessica R. Patch weaves a dark, twisty tapestry that’s both unsettling and unexpectedly hopeful. Masterful.” –New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan

She bought this house to save her marriage. Unearthing its secrets might just claim her life.

Gwen McDaniel’s life is broken. But she knows the perfect place to fix it. Cold Harbor, Maine is where she used to vacation with her parents as a child, an idyllic small town with views of Acadia National Park. Here, she and Steven can start over, renovating their cliff-side fixer-upper while patching up their marriage. Soon, everything will be better.

Except from the moment they arrive, Gwen sees and hears things, and it’s more than just the drafts and shadows that are part of any old house. Steven downplays her fears, warning her not to fixate on problems as she has in the past. But Gwen spent years as a homicide detective, and her instincts don’t lie. Something happened here. Proof comes when she rips up the attic’s old carpet to discover a chilling message carved into the wood.

As Gwen delves into the history of the house and Cold Harbor community, she begins to piece the fragments together. And gradually, a terrifying picture emerges: A missing girl. A house of horrors. And a dark, decades-old nightmare that is more haunting than Gwen ever imagined…

Here's a little more about Jessica:

You’re invited to join the Patched In community at her website: www.jessicarpatch.com and receive a FREE short thriller, Nobody Has to Know.

Jessica is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management.

BUY LINK: Purchase from your favorite retailer https://jessicarpatch.com/book/the-girl-upstairs/

Leave a comment with your contact info for a chance to win an ebook copy of The Other Sister, "A twisty tale packed with juicy surprises.” –Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of The Paris Widow

She thought she was the only one lying about her identity. Until she stepped into her sister’s life.

 

 

WHAT'S HOT IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE?

Wondering what's HOT in Inspirational Suspense this week? THE LONE RICE BOWL by USA Today Bestselling Author Camy Tang!!

A Hawaiian Christmas, an undercover investigation—and maybe a second chance at love.

Mimi Sakai has held the infamous title of the Oldest Single Female Cousin in her family for many years now, but her independent streak enables her to ignore the nagging and pitying looks. When she spends Christmas in Hawaii to help her favorite aunty out at her high-end cosmetics store, Mimi is reunited with Tosh, a boy she wronged when she was much younger and much more stupid. She tries to meet with him to apologize, but she unexpectedly becomes embroiled in his undercover work.

Security consultant Tosh Kusunoki has become a loner after being hounded by the gossip about his father’s fatal car accident, which happened to also kill his girlfriend. He never expected to see Mimi again after all these years, nor could he have predicted that she would be caught up in his investigation into drugs on the North Shore.

Mimi agrees to help Tosh, and as they work together, they fall back into the comfortable friendship they had in the past. But Mimi struggles with loneliness, with regret over who she used to be, and uncertainty over who she wants to become. She knows she’s just a mass of emotional baggage and Tosh should run away screaming.

Despite all that, could Mimi possibly hope to receive the gift of a Christmas romance in paradise?

THE LONE RICE BOWL is Book #1 in the Mahina Security Christian Romantic Suspense series and you can get your copy at THIS LINK! 

I hope you LOVE it! ~ Marji Laine

SIT DOWN WITH JESSICA R PATCH

Thanks for joining me today while I talk with Jessica R. Patch. First a bit about her. She is a Publishers Weekly bestselling and award-winning author of more than 27 novels and is known for her dry wit, signature twists, and complex characters. She loves reading true crime books, discussing cold cases over chips and salsa with her girlfriends, and hunting down sinister killers in her romantic suspense novels and dark, twisty thrillers.

Patricia: Jessica, I've known you for over ten years now, but I never asked when you started writing.

Jessica: Like most writers, I suppose I’ve always written stories of some kind for fun, but I began pursuing publication in 2008 when I wrote my first romantic suspense novel. No, it hasn’t seen the light of day. 

Patricia: I have at least two that won't ever see the light of day because I shredded them! So, why romantic suspense novels?

Jessica: I have always loved mysteries, suspense, and thrillers from an early age watching Scooby Doo (I was pretty good at knowing who the villain was before the meddling kids) to reading Nancy Drew and then moving on to authors like Tami Hoag, Jonathan Kellerman and Faye Kellerman, Kathy Reichs, and even John Saul in the late 80s. Anything my mom had on hand, I read it, and she loved them too. I enjoy solving the crimes as an armchair detective, puzzling out the clues. Naturally, this made sense to write. I also love romance, though it takes backseat to not even in the car with my trade novels, but I enjoy writing them in my Love Inspired Suspense books. I do love a good love story!

Patricia: Writing romance is hard for me...What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense for you?

Jessica: The words. LOL The hardest part of writing a suspense is hiding the villain, dispensing the clues and questions at just the right time as to not give too much away and yet revealing breadcrumbs so when the twists hit, the reader realizes it’s been there the whole time!

Patricia: And you do it very well! How long does it generally take you to write a novel?

Jessica: I wrote my last Love Inspired Suspense novel in 8 days. I do not recommend it. But on a more normal, sane basis I write a LIS in about 30 days and spent 2 weeks revising before sending it off to my editor. For a trade thriller which is far more complex, I spend about 3-4 months in writing and revising because I do the hard part on the front end which may take me 3 or more months to really create the complex characters, many twists, and all the rich layers we love in a good book—metaphor, symbolism, deeper truths that are slowly revealed and something to ponder on after closing the pages.

Patricia: Eight days? Are you kidding me??? So, are you a panster or plotter or somewhere in between?

Jessica: I’m somewhere in between. I know the plot, the villain/s, red herrings, backstory, all the things but when I begin creating scenes there are quite a few unexpected surprises I never plotted. 

Patricia: I've read all your books, so what would you fear the most if Homeland Security went through your computer?

Jessica: That I’m a danger to myself and others! LOL 

Patricia: I hear you! What’s the most rewarding or frustrating thing about writing?

Jessica: The most rewarding thing is to satisfy readers and blow their minds with fun twists, but to also receive emails that parts or the whole of a story have deeply touched them and made them think about their own lives and struggles. The most frustrating thing is reviewers that cross the line from not enjoying your book (which is totally fair) to assuming they know what you, the author, must have been thinking or not thinking or if I have faith at all due to the darker themes. You can’t presume to know a person and shouldn’t try. 

Patricia: I agree. The Bible is full of dark themes, but always offers hope, and that's what I find in your stories. What are you working on now?

Jessica: I am working on my 2026 dark, twisty thriller The Girl Upstairs which is due April 30th. I’m also working on a LIS in the afternoons which isn’t due for many months but I’m working ahead because my first grandbaby is on the way and he will be here in July, so I want all my contracted manuscripts off my plate!

Patricia: Congratulations on that grandbaby!! I know you'll want to have plenty of free time! Tell us about your current book.

Jessica: My current book, The Other Sister, is a dark, twisty thriller that releases April 22nd. This story explores how far a woman desperate for love, hope and family will go to possess it. It’s a look inside our hearts—are we content with who we are and what we have or so discontent we’re willing to cross lines to gain what we think we want most. Charlotte Kane is about to find out that the other side really isn’t greener at all. It’s quite deadly in fact.

Patricia: It is an awesome book! The ending...I won't say anything other than that I didn't see what happened at the end coming even though you left plenty of clues! Readers can read my review of it here.

Anything you want to add?

Jessica: You can preorder The Other Sister and be automatically in for the VIP party on Zoom with me June 3rd. We’ll be discussing the book, author friends will be there with giveaways, I’ll be giving away backlist books and $100 Amazon card to 1 winner. Just preorder your favorite format and upload your proof of purchase along with your email address and join the party!

Patricia: Find out more here.

Jessica resides in the Memphis area with her husband and her spoiled tri-color Shetland Sheepdog since becoming empty-nesters. Jessica is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management.

You’re invited to join the Patched In community at her website: www.jessicarpatch.com and receive a FREE short thriller, Nobody Has to Know.

 

What's HOT in Inspirational Suspense

 Wondering what's new in inspirational suspense and mystery? Seeking Evil, Book Three of Hallowed Halls Series, by our own Mary Alford was released just this past week! Here's a little bit about it--

No one knows where she is. . .

When BAU Agent Sierra Parker's car dies in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, she breaks a critical rule by catching a ride with a kind stranger. This decision leads her straight into the lair of a serial killer, where she discovers she isn't the first victim. Barrels containing the remains of those who went before her line a wall proving none of them escaped their captor. Can Sierra outwit the seasoned killer to save her life, or will she become the latest victim buried in a barrel?

The last Agent Zeke London heard from Sierra was when she told him she needed to get away to figure things out between them. That was over a week ago and his calls have been met with radio silence. Can he do the impossible and locate Sierra in the middle of the mountains before it's too late?

Find out in the next book in the Hallowed Halls Series!

You can buy Seeking Evil from the Hallowed Halls series HERE  or read it on KU!

Have a great week of reading, lovers of inspirational suspense and mystery!

Patricia Bradley ~ Suspense Sisters

Do you find the time for doing what you love? Also, a FREE boxed set!

 Wishing you all a happy Wednesday! 💕

Yesterday it was 74 degrees and sunny. Today we'll be having snow...and just five minutes ago, I heard thunder. The Upper Midwest is always interesting!

But I won't be seeing any of that snow today. I'll be working like mad to finish proofing a new book, because I need to leave for a short trip as soon as I hit "Send." The pressure is on...as well as the anxiety.

This book has been professionally edited...twice.  This week, I have been going through it using two editing programs, one after the other, to catch any small typos all of us might have missed.  

 At this point, I always yearn for the "day after" when I can breathe a sigh of relief and then catch up on everything else. 

My husband is patient, though he frequently asks why I work such long hours when I should be having fun. My answer is always the same--this is what I love, until a deadline looms.

At least until retirement, most of us have many commitments that take up our time, whether it's our own education, a career, raising a family, caring for a loved one, or volunteering for a church or community. Sometimes, many of those hit all at once.

What do you love to do? What makes you the happiest? Are you able to find quiet times for yourself?  I would love to hear about it!

                                             ~~~~

Would you like a FREE boxed set (collection) of three full-length Christian romantic suspense novels?  It was released on March 11th.

You can find  MONTANA SECRETS Books 1-3 on Amazon by clicking HERE.

It's free with Kindle Unlimited, but if you choose to buy, it's still a bargain compared to buying the books individually.

Leave a comment, and you will be added to a drawing for a free e-copy of  DANGEROUS STORM. You can see it by clicking HERE.

Wishing you a blessed week,

Roxanne Rustand
www.roxannerustand.com

Have I got questions for you!

 It's already the end of January, and the clock is ticking. I start every year by planning to be organized, to keep to a comfortable schedule, and to strike a healthy balance between my family, my church family, and my writing.

Invariably, I end up a bit overwhelmed--writing deadlines start to pile up and interfere with the extra time I want with family, and I get behind on everything else.   

Does your life ever end up that way?  I have three book deadlines looming and wish I could create an extra three weeks in February! 😁

One of those deadlines is for the final proof of my first boxed set containing three full-length novels. 

It will be released May 11th on Amazon. It's up for pre-order now (click here to read more) at a bargain price compared to buying the individual books.

Other authors tell me that many readers prefer boxed sets, so they can easily move through the books in a series. Is that true?

I would love your opinion on boxed sets before I do another for the final three books in this Montana Secrets romantic suspense series. What do you prefer--buying books one-by-one, or buying a boxed set? 

I have another question.  😊

Do you prefer audio to e-books or print?  

It's very expensive to create an audio book if authors hire professional narrators. Less so, if one does this via a shared royalty contract with that voice talent. But either way, it takes a lot of financial commitment.

I'm seeing quite a few audiobooks for sale created with an AI voice.  This doesn't begin to compare with live voice talent, of course, though it is getting much better.  

I deeply dislike the idea of AI taking work away from people. But I am wondering about my readers who have visual impairment and struggle to read even the largest font size on their Kindles. Or those who would like to listen to books for sheer convenience.

Have you ever listened to an audio book created in this way? What did you think? Would it be better to skip audio versions altogether until I can afford to have one professionally produced?

I would be so grateful for your opinions! Leave a comment and you will be entered in a drawing for one free e-book of any of my book titles.

Click here to see them (but be sure to click "Sort by date") on the right side of the column, so you don't see very old titles first.

Blesssings,

Roxanne Rustand

www.roxannerustand.com

Things that go bump in the night... and a new release! Roxanne Rustand

Have you ever experienced something that ought to be in a book?  

If I wrote paranormal or horror fiction instead of clean, small-town romantic suspense, I could have ended up with some good research on a recent family trip! 

The Airbnb we stayed in was lovely, a home that could have been featured in a magazine. We were awed by the layout and decor--a formal dining room with a fireplace, high ceilings, two full bathrooms, three bedrooms, and a gorgeous white, completely updated kitchen.  

The home was supplied with lovely china, glassware, goblets, wine glasses, and serving platters—everything one could ask for if they were serving a meal during a holiday stay. The off-season rate was very reasonable, and it all looked perfect. 

And it was, until...

The lights began brightening and fading out, then brightening and fading out again. They would be fine for a while, then start fluctuating again.  

The microwave abruptly snapped and blew out while not in use.

The air conditioner stopped working. I turned on one of the bathroom lights, which was suspended from the high ceiling, and it sizzled, popped, and blew out.

I'm sure the owners (lovely people) have addressed the electrical situation already. But it wasn't just the electrical system. One of the toilets quit working. And then the grand finale...

The night before we checked out, I cleaned up the kitchen and put a final coffee cup in the cabinet where it belonged, on a higher shelf...and the entire, extra long, heavily loaded shelf of glassware and cups collapsed.

As if on a children's slide at a park, all of its contents sped toward me, the weight of it unstoppable, shattering on the counters, stove, sink, and floor. And...the dinnerware on the shelf below was toast as well. 

If I hadn't been wearing shoes, I would have been marooned in the sea of glass all over the floor.

I don't believe in poltergeists, but this experience does seem like a taste of something out of a horror movie: unwitting travelers end up in a perfect place almost too good to be true, and then things start to happen.  LOL!

Have you ever had a strange experience like this? 

I would love to hear about it! Leave a comment, and you will be in a drawing for a free copy of any ebook in my Northern Pines Suspense series.

On a happier note, I have a new release this week!  DANGEROUS SECRETS is a clean, small-town romantic suspense. 

Do you believe in second chances? Here's a quick peek:

The last thing she'd expected was to see her husband back in town.

He'd wanted to start a family. Jill had wanted to wait...just for a while, while she established her medical practice in this small town. But in the midst of that uncertainty and other, bigger issues, he'd simply walked out. Or...was it really that simple?

Now he's back in town, and an unknown enemy appears whose threats are escalating against them both.

And then one night changes everything...

Click here to read more about it on Amazon. Free on Kindle Unlimited, or just $3.99 to buy.

Wishing you a wonderful summer,

Roxanne Rustand
www.roxannerustand.com

Easter blessings...and a question: what's in a name? Roxanne Rustand

 Easter blessings to you all!

This season is filled with such joy and hope, as we move through the weeks of Lent toward the suffering Jesus endured and his glorious resurrection.

It has even more meaning to me this year. I was adopted at three and have been a lifetime church member. My parents were told by the social worker that I had been baptized and they believed it.  But was I?  There were no documents, and I always wondered. 

So this winter, when our Lutheran church had a weekend of open baptism when anyone could walk forward on the spur of the moment, I did. And now I know. I felt such joy at that moment, and now feel so blessed and reassured!

On a completely different note, after I find and buy books by my favorite authors on Amazon, my gaze always drifts to the rows of book covers below the book's description, called "Products related to this item" and "Based on your recent views." Then farther down to "Books you may like."  

Do you do this, too? Just by looking at a cover, book title, and subtitle, I can sometimes find books I want to explore. 

I know those details have been carefully planned by the authors (at least those who are experienced) to show a great deal about the book--and avoid misleading buyers into a purchase they might regret.  Even the font used on a cover can convey useful information. Is it fun and swirly? Intense?

I was so naive when I first started publishing with Amazon. 

I found photos of lovely flowers or landscape scenes, and asked my cover artist to use them. 

I also came up with what I thought were pretty titles, without a thought about actually conveying what the book was about. And I didn't know how to write book descriptions for Amazon, either.

When I look back at my abysmal sales during those early years, I  actually feel gratitude. No one would have guessed those books were romantic suspense! And if readers bought them expecting to read a nice contemporary romance novel, they would have been deeply disappointed.

It's all about branding, really. A way to convey information about a specific book, a book series, and also about the author.

For example, I write both Christian Romantic Suspense and Clean Romantic suspense, so I use those labels as my book subtitles.  The book titles themselves are meant to convey that the book is a suspense. 

If you look at the wonderful books shown here on the Suspensesisters blog, or do a search on Amazon for a category like "Top 100 Christian Romantic Suspense," you can see how authors do this. Clarity is important, for the best reader experience! 

My brand (my promise to readers) is that in addition to suspense and romance, they will find a warm thread involving family relationships, and a thread of faith--but with a lighter touch in the books labeled "Clean romance." And I always include an animal of some kind that makes a difference to a character in the story.  

I hope including that animal on my book covers visually alludes to deeper emotion and warmth, as opposed to covers promising a gritty or far more intense read. Usually, it's a dog. My new release is just a bit different--with a nosy llama! 

 
Here is a quick link to FINAL TRUTH in case you would like to buy or just take a look.

What are your thoughts about book titles and cover art? Do they help spur your interest in looking at a book's Amazon page, or do you mostly go by author names?

Wishing you all a happy Easter!

Roxanne Rustand

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!  💕💕💕

Are you planning on doing anything special?  We gave up on going out for  Valentine's dinner long, long ago because a crowded restaurant just isn't appealing, especially during the height of cold and flu season. 

A good romantic movie always sounds nice, though.  One of my favorites is the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice, which I've watched too many times to count! Do you have some favorites to recommend? I would love to hear about them.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's always fly past. Does that happen to you, as well?  We have  four  family birthdays that fall within two weeks of Christmas, making that time even more special. And busy!

But come January 1st, I always launch back into long days in my home office. The old saying "Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life" is so true. Writing fills me joy. 

What fills you with joy? 

One thing that doesn't fill me with joy is the endless task of trying to winnow through a lifetime of possessions. 

Though we have no plans to move, I have a dream of downsizing.  My husband is a minimalist, while I'm a very sentimental saver--probably stemming from being in a long series of foster care homes from birth until I turned three, and it's hard for me to "let go." 

The book "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" inspires me, though. 

Yet, despite never-ending trips to donate at our local Treasures (a shop that supports young parents), Olivet Mission (where everything is free for those in need), and Salvation Army, it seems as if I barely make a dent. Are you a saver too, or are you more of a minimalist?  I could sure use your advice!

Last week, my husband and I went to a draft horse sale in Kalona, a very small town in an Amish and Mennonite area nearby. 

The Amish help run the sale and are big sellers and buyers, though the license plates in the parking lot were from states coast to coast. It's always fun to watch the horses and exciting to hear the bids go up and up. Last year, a two-horse team went for $45,000! 

Before I go, HERE'S A LINK to my new book, Deadly Evidence. It's free on Kindle Unlimited and at a bargain price otherwise. 😊

Leave a comment, and you will be in a drawing for a FREE copy of Deadly Vendetta. CLICK HERE to read about the book you could win!

Blessings,
Roxanne Rustand 

Reaching the end... Roxanne Rustand

 

Do you ever reach the last book in a series, or the end of a series on television, and wish it would go on and on? 

I've been watching the tenth and final season of Doc Martin on public television. The doc is a curmudgeonly sort with an abrasive lack of people skills, but the series has been filled with humorous characters and subplots that I have come to love and I will miss them when the series ends.

Another series (among many PBS shows I enjoy) I am grateful for is All Creatures Great and Small.  Being an avid animal lover, this series has been a joy. The setting is a delight as well, because I love reading fiction set in Ireland, Scotland, and England. The series is still running, and I wish it would never end. But that time will come, too.

What about you? Do you have some favorite, ongoing television series to recommend on television or a streaming service? I would love to hear about them! 

As a writer, writing the final book in one of my Christian Romantic series is a little sad, too. Creating characters and writing multiple books in that world becomes part of me--as if some of those imaginary folks have become friends.

DEADLY EVIDENCE will be released on January 30th. It is the fourth and final book in my DEA Agents series, and is available for preorder HERE. The good thing, is that the books can be read in any order. So if you missed the other releases this past fall, it's not too late!

Leave a comment, and you will be entered in a contest for a free e-book copy of  DEADLY BETRAYAL (read about it HERE.)

I hope you had a wonderful, blessed Christmas and that the coming year will be a blessing as well.  

All my best,

Roxanne Rustand
www.roxannerustand.com

Thank you for your cover help! Roxanne Rustand

On Friday, October 13th, I posted about a mistake I'd made with the  book covers for the upcoming third and fourth books in my  DEA Special Agents series.  I almost always have book covers show the dogs in the story, but I forgot to tell my cover artist to add them! 

Many of you were so kind, and offered opinions on what I should do: go with the dog-less book covers as-is, or have them redone ASAP, to include the correct dogs that appear in each of the books. 

The Suspensesisters authors usually post just once a month or so, but I asked Nancy Mehl if I could post again just to express my thanks to everyone who left comments.   
 

Though I was in a bit of a tizzy, since the release dates are so close, all of you helped clarify both the situation and the solution.

I hope these new Deadly Evidence (release date 11/14) and January's Deadly Betrayal covers now coordinate better with the first two books in the series.

For comparison, look at the bottom cover. Deadly Noel is the book  released on October 18th--and it has a dog on the cover.   :)  

I hope the newly added dogs lend a bit more warmth and appeal. What do you think?

Thank you to everyone who offered advice.  

You are all so kind!

Roxanne Rustand    

Can you help me with a cover decision? Roxanne Rustand

 

Hello, again!

What a wonderful rainy morning this is! Our county has been in a severe drought since June, without any measurable rainfall, but now rain has been falling for two full days. 

I stand at our windows and just watch it, feeling so blessed. Have you had severe or unusual weather this year where you live?

 

 DEADLY NOEL will be released on October 18th, and is at a special pre-order price until then.  Click on the title to check it out! 

I've got a question for you about book covers. 

I write Christian romantic suspense, and usually have a dog as an integral part of the story. That dog then appears on my covers. Part of my author brand is to have warm, emotional threads in my books, and I hope the dogs on my covers help convey that a bit. Or does it?

 The cover artist for my current DEA Special Agents four-book series did include the pertinent dog on the first two covers of this new series, but didn't on the last two. So now I am debating about asking for replacement covers for them. Do you think it matters?

Here is the third book in this series without the dog (a Basset) on the cover. What do you think?  Is it all right, or would it be better with a dog on the cover?

DEADLY BETRAYAL, is available for a special preorder price until its release day on November 14th.

But I can still request a cover change!

Leave a comment, and you'll be in a drawing for a free Kindle copy of any title in my previous Wyoming Courage series.

Wishing you a wonderful autumn,

Roxanne Rustand

COME MEET LORETTA EIDSON

by Patricia Bradley

Hi everyone! I'd like to introduce a writer friend of mine...Loretta Eidson who writes for Love Inspired Suspense. She's an award-winning author who loves writing romantic suspense. She believes in the power of prayer and enjoys putting her characters in realistic situations where they must trust God to pull them through. 

AND, last but not least, Loretta loves chocolate, caramel, iced tea, and coffee.  (She's also giving away a copy of her first book, Pursued in the Wilderness!)

Patricia: Welcome, Loretta! Tell me, what has being published taught you? 

Loretta: Being published has taught me that even though I write the story, it takes a team to reach publication and we must all work together to make it happen. I’ve also learned that I now have a standard to uphold for my readers.

Patricia: I really does take a team to get a book to the shelves! What is your favorite part about writing. 

Loretta: My favorite part about writing is allowing my imagination to soar into the what-if’s. I love creating a suspenseful, action-packed story. 

Patricia: Least favorite? 

Loretta: Writing the synopsis for the proposal.

Patricia: Oh, I feel your pain when it comes to writing a synopsis! And Love Inspired Suspense wants a very detailed synopsis! Tell me, do you consider yourself a Panster or Plotter? 

Loretta: I call myself a panster, but writing that long synopsis almost feels like I’m a plotter. 

Patricia: I'm trying to write a proposal for LIS and I SO agree! What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies? 

Loretta: When I’m not writing, I’m either reading, cleaning house, watching murder mysteries on television, or spending time with my family. 

Hobby? I love collecting fun coffee mugs with cute sayings or with scripture on them. 

Patricia: I like collecting coffee mugs, too! Does writing energize or exhaust you? 

Loretta: Oh, writing is invigorating for me. I love the challenge.

Patricia: It is quite the challenge, for sure. You do a lot of research. Where is your favorite place to research. 

Loretta: Since my books this far have been in the mountains, I’ve enjoyed vacationing surrounded by them.

Patricia: I love the mountains, too! What would you like readers to know about your story/characters? 

Loretta: It is my desire to present a storyline where my characters must trust God to get them through their difficult situations and learn that God will make a way where there appears to be no way. I want my characters to find love, forgiveness, and peace in their journeys.

Patricia: You do that very well in your stories! What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors? 

Loretta: Be yourself. Don’t try to mirror another author. Don’t give up despite the rejections. Persistence pays off.

Patricia: Absolutely! What’s next from you? 

After Blue Ridge Mountain Escape releases on June 27, 2023, my next novel, Deadly Marine Reunion, releases on December 26, 2023. 

Patricia: Oh, wow! That's great. I won't have to wait so long for another Loretta Eidson book!

Readers: Here's the cover and back copy for Blue Ridge Mountain Escape:

The firefighter rescued her once…

But can they outrun the dangers?

A peaceful vacation is what Haley Gordon needs to put her troubles behind her. Instead, she finds herself fighting for her life against a raging forest fire. Forest Service firefighter Kendall Simpson vows to protect Haley—although he has questions about her story. But with the firestorm out of control and news of escaped convicts on the mountain, can Haley and Kendall trust each other enough to survive?

You can find buy links for Blue Ridge Mountain Escape here! You can also purchase a print copy at your local big box store!

Loretta is giving away a print copy of her first book, Pursued in the Wilderness! Just leave a comment and I'll enter you in a drawing...winner announced here next Wednesday!

WHAT'S NEW IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

 BY Patricia Bradley

What's HOT in Inspirational Fiction this month? The Lies We Believe by Lisa Harris releases later this month! Preorder now.

“Tell me what happened yesterday?”

I shift on the padded chair in my psychiatrist’s office, staring at the abstract watercolor on the wall as an attempt to avoid her question. “I saw my ex-husband, Lucas.”

“And. . .” Dr. Gabrieli prodded.

I don't answer.

“Riley?

I finally look back at the doctor. “It wasn’t Lucas. Just. . .just someone who looked like him.”

“Exactly. You see, our minds are incredible machines but simply put, they don’t work like computers. Instead, they can unconsciously bend our perception of what is real and fill in the gaps, making it possible to perceive things that aren’t really there.” Dr. Gabrieli taps her pen against her notebook. “Think about an amputee who still feels his missing leg, or how it’s possible to see patterns in chaos. Memories are sprinkled with gaps, then we fill in those gaps with our own created recollections.”

False information.

Distorted memories.

Lies.

But what if my mind can’t decipher what are truths and what are lies? And what if the truth is even more dangerous than the lies my mind believes?

***

Riley Bishop is a single mother, working at home as a security analyst to provide for her two children, Sadie and Oliver. But something is very wrong. Riley starts forgetting things—like appointments, where she put her keys, and where she parked her car. And then she thinks she sees her deceased ex-husband while out shopping. But as Riley begins to question her own sanity, her twelve-year-old Sadie goes missing. Soon Riley finds it harder and harder to know what is truth and what are lies as she is forced to question her own reality while she searches for her daughter.

Apprehending fugitives as a part of the SOG team gives Tucker Shaw the purpose and drive he needs to fight the demons from his past. When he’s called out on a mission, Operation Jackal, to track down a group of endangered children, he has no idea how drastically his life is about to change. It’s a frantic hunt as Tucker and his team race to save thirteen children, including Sadie. But when Sadie’s mother comes to him with credible evidence on who is behind the girls’ disappearances, the situation quickly spirals out of control with a final twist that has Tucker questioning everything he knows to be true.

 Available for preorder on Amazon!

We love books!

WHAT'S NEW IN INSPIRATIONAL SUSPENSE

 By Patricia Bradley

Wondering what's new and Hot in Inspirational suspense? Kelly Irvin's A Deadly Wilderness released May 23!

A frantic anonymous crisis center hot-line call propels counselor Susana Martinez-Acosta smack into the center of a murder investigation and a homicide detective’s arms. Exactly where she doesn’t want to be. Following the tragic death of her husband, she’s struggled to build a safe haven for herself and her son. That new world doesn’t include hit men and persistent detectives with dangerous jobs.

An idyllic wilderness hike turns deadly when homicide detective Ray Johnson tumbles into a ravine and lands on a corpse later identified as the son of a prominent citizen. Ray works to solve the political hot potato murder before city leaders bump him from the case. His determination to find the man’s killer leads him from the wealthiest enclaves in San Antonio to the city’s dark underbelly, all the while trying to win the woman he loves.

A Deadly Wilderness is a romantic suspense novel that will take the reader along on a tumultuous journey as the consuming need for material wealth drives a deadly wedge among family members who haven’t learned when enough really is enough. The journey ends where it began—in a deadly wilderness.

You can buy it here.

WE LOVE BOOKS!

Interview with Alex Stone from Counter Attack

 Good morning, Suspense Sisters' followers! I've hijacked Patricia Bradley's post today. If she can make me return to Pearl Springs when that's the last place I want to be, I can take over her blog post!

And don't even get me started on what it's like to leave the Chattanooga police department, destroying my opportunity to be the first Chattanooga Police Chief! 

But she knew me well enough to know that I wouldn't leave the grandfather who raised me in a bind. Plus this gig as his chief deputy is temporary. Or at least it's supposed to be. 

If I leave, it's going to be hard to leave Nathan Landry, the Pearl Springs Police Chief. And we do work well together, me running the Russell County Sheriff's Office and him the city police department.

And, he knows chess...which I don't and the killer in Counter Attack is leaving chess moves at each murder... I have no patience to sit there and try and figure out what my opponent is going to do next...although I should. I do it every day in my quest to capture criminals. But at least with criminals, I don't have to figure out algebraic equations. That's what chess is, you know...

And Nathan is ever so easy on the eyes...Patricia doesn't tell you in the book, but he looks really good in a tight-fitting tee shirt. Those abs...Alex clears her throat. 

Oh, and I suppose you're wondering about the name Alex. It's really Alexis, but really, can you see a bunch of macho men in a police department taking me seriously as Alexis? No, Alex works much better, even though Nathan refuses to call me anything other than Alexis.

Patricia really stretched me in this story, making me delve into the Dark Web. Can I tell you a little secret? The Dark Web isn't all bad. People use it in countries where it isn't safe to contact their relatives or where every email is scrutinized, and the Dark Web lets them email family and friends without worrying about repercussions. 

Well, I better get back to work--Patricia has me really busy in her next book, Fatal Witness...but if you want to know if Nathan and I get together, check out Counter Attack! I hear it's getting really great reviews...

Alexis Stone has no sooner been sworn in as the chief deputy for Russell County, Tennessee, when a serial killer dubbed the Queen’s Gambit Killer strikes again–this time in her hometown. Pearl Springs is just supposed to be a temporary stop along the way to Alex’s real dream: becoming the first female police chief of Chattanooga. But the killer’s calling card–a white pawn and a note with a chess move printed on it–cannot be ignored.

Pearl Springs chief of police Nathan Landry can’t believe that his high school sweetheart Alexis (he refuses to call her Alex) is back in town, and he can’t help wanting to protect the woman he never stopped loving. But as the danger mounts and the killer closes in, can Nathan come through on the promises he makes to himself to bring a killer to justice before it’s too late?

To learn more, click here.

Leave a comment and I'll enter you in a drawing for a copy of Counter Attack! Or if you already have it, a $10 Amazon gift card. Let me know if you've ever dipped into the Dark Web!

Last month's winner is Amy Bradsher.